Martin O'Neill has insisted Aston Villa are not one-dimensional on the pitch when responding to comments attributed to CSKA Moscow counterpart and Uefa Cup rival Zico.

Brazilian legend Zico intimated that Villa were predictable during the 1-1 draw at Villa Park last week, saying: "We were not surprised by the way Villa played. It was very seldom they had the ball on the ground making passes. They get Ashley Young to put the ball into the box a lot. We expected this sort of game and we were ready for it."

O'Neill believes the analysis is nonsense and argues there is nothing wrong in making the most of a "world-class" to open up opposition defences.

"Ashley Young didn't play against Wigan recently and someone said then that all we did was get it out wide for James Milner to lob in a couple of hopeful balls,” said the former Celtic boss. "Funnily enough, I knew the way CSKA were going to play. But I wouldn't be running around telling them whether how they play is good, bad or indifferent.

"When I was at Nottingham Forest, we won the league championship and two European Cups - which I don't think CSKA Moscow have won - by getting the ball out wide to a world-class winger (John Robertson).

"He beat a couple of players, whipped it in and then Gary Birtles or Tony Woodcock headed it into the net.

"I am sure Zico would also have played in a side that can also get the ball out wide and beat players. I thought it was part of the game.

"I don't know whether what Zico said was a criticism. The fact they were unable to stop a world-class player like Young from doing what is allowed on the pitch might tell me something."

O'Neill singled out central midfielder Stiliyan Petrov as one of the best players on the pitch that night.

"He got the ball down and played through them, took it off them and ran past them. He did all of those things,” said the Irishman. "It is a cop-out. I don't accept what he has said. If getting it wide and someone beating three or four players exhilarates the crowd, I don't see a great deal wrong with it.

"We are not one-dimensional. Absolutely not. Far from it - and I wouldn't go and tell Moscow how to play."

O'Neill’s priorities, however, lie with the league and he has left eight regular first teamers out of the squad for the second leg clash. Stand-in skipper Gareth Barry, Brad Friedel, Emile Heskey, Ashley Young, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Carlos Cuellar, James Milner and Petrov are all excluded from the 19 strong party.

In addition captain Martin Laursen, Nigel Reo-Coker and Wilfred Bouma are all on the injured list.

Luke Young, Curtis Davies, Zat Knight and John Carew are amongst the few experienced players in the squad. But youngsters such as Elliott Parish, Eric Lichaj, Ciaran Clark, Shane Lowry, Barry Bannan and Mark Albrighton are included.

O'Neill said: "If we hadn't other things to concern ourselves with, like league points which are very important for us at this stage, I would have no fear about going to play CSKA.

"The irony of it all is that we spent all last year breaking our necks to get into the Uefa Cup. We started in July in the Intertoto just to get into it.

"I have to try and please the Villa fans and I think they would look at that and think the Premier League, which can eventually drive you into the Champions League, is the Holy Grail.

"Football has changed and chasing a top four place in the Premier League, to get you into the Champions League, is everything.

"We have a couple of players carrying injuries and a couple of others who I believe need resting for the important final third of the season."

Cuellar has been troubled by a hamstring injury and O'Neill indicated at the weekend he would not travel for fear of aggravating the problem on a plastic pitch.

Heskey only returned to action against Chelsea at the weekend after aggravating an Achilles injury while on England duty in Spain.

Milner missed the first leg against CSKA with a thigh injury.